Ty Harrell
Encyclopedia
Warren Tyrone Harrell (born February 6 1970, in Newark, New Jersey
) is a former Democratic member of the North Carolina General Assembly
representing the state's 41st House district in western Wake County. He defeated Chris Mintz
in the 2006 Democratic Primary, and incumbent Russell Capps in the 2006 general election.
On September 20, 2009, just nine months into his second term in office, Harrell resigned from the North Carolina House of Representatives
after separate investigations into his campaign expenditures were launched by the House Ethics Committee and the State Board of Elections.
Harrell was raised in Raleigh, North Carolina
and graduated from Sanderson High School
. Harrell received his B.A in English from Appalachian State University
and his M.A in Political Management from The George Washington University. He is also a member of the Kappa Alpha Psi
fraternity.
Shortly after the Board of Elections' announcement, the NC House Speaker's Office announced that the Speaker had ordered an ethics investigation of Harrell over his financial records.
In his first run for State House in 2006, Harrell was criticized for delinquent tax payments for vehicles and property he owned. Harrell had 17 delinquent tax payments over an 11-year period totaling more than $3,100. One such tax bill was nearly eight years overdue.
On September 20, 2009, Harrell submitted a letter of resignation to House Speaker Joe Hackney
, effective immediately, amid the ongoing controversy over campaign expenditures totaling more than $13,000, revelations he was living outside of his district, and his divorce from his wife.
Harrell began his second term as Chair of the House Committee on Science and Technology and vice-chair of the House Committee on State Government and State Personnel, as well as vice-chair of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation.
Early in his second term, Harrell received criticism for his support of H. 1252 ("Level Playing Field") in his committee. The bill was heavily supported by various conservative organizations as well as Time Warner Cable
, which had a location within then-Representative Harrell's district.
The left-leaning North Carolina Center for Public Policy Research listed Harrell 52nd in their 2008 effectiveness rankings, the highest ranking given to any freshman lawmaker. Those rankings have since been criticized for favoring the majority party, as they include votes from the media, lobbyists, and the lawmakers themselves.
In the group's subsequent 2010 rankings, the Raleigh News & Observer reported that "the dubious honor for the biggest drop in effectiveness belongs to former Rep. Ty Harrell, who dropped from 52nd to 110th."
, and after the president's election, Harrell was briefly rumored to have been considered a potential choice as Obama's ambassador to Canada
.
Newark, New Jersey
Newark is the largest city in the American state of New Jersey, and the seat of Essex County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Newark had a population of 277,140, maintaining its status as the largest municipality in New Jersey. It is the 68th largest city in the U.S...
) is a former Democratic member of the North Carolina General Assembly
North Carolina General Assembly
The North Carolina General Assembly is the state legislature of the U.S. state of North Carolina. The General Assembly drafts and legislates the state laws of North Carolina, also known as the General Statutes...
representing the state's 41st House district in western Wake County. He defeated Chris Mintz
Chris Mintz
Christopher "Chris" Mintz is a member of the North Carolina Democratic Party and a former candidate for the North Carolina Senate. Mintz unsuccessfully sought the Democratic nomination for the North Carolina General Assembly in 2006. He lost to former State Representative Ty Harrell in the primary...
in the 2006 Democratic Primary, and incumbent Russell Capps in the 2006 general election.
On September 20, 2009, just nine months into his second term in office, Harrell resigned from the North Carolina House of Representatives
North Carolina House of Representatives
The North Carolina House of Representatives is one of the two houses of the North Carolina General Assembly. The House is a 120-member body led by a Speaker of the House, who holds powers similar to those of the President pro-tem in the state senate....
after separate investigations into his campaign expenditures were launched by the House Ethics Committee and the State Board of Elections.
Personal life
Harrell is currently separated from his wife, Canadian national Melanie DuPon. They have two sons. In July 2009, his wife filed preliminary divorce proceedings, alleging that Harrell was involved in at least one extramarital affair, left their young children at home alone, drank heavily, and refused and failed to pay taxes.Harrell was raised in Raleigh, North Carolina
Raleigh, North Carolina
Raleigh is the capital and the second largest city in the state of North Carolina as well as the seat of Wake County. Raleigh is known as the "City of Oaks" for its many oak trees. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city's 2010 population was 403,892, over an area of , making Raleigh...
and graduated from Sanderson High School
Sanderson High School
Sanderson's sports team play under the Sparta identity. The school's motto is "Sumus Spartani. Sumus Optimi." which is Latin for "We are the Spartans. We are the best." Their athletic director is Tony Lewis, also the head football coach...
. Harrell received his B.A in English from Appalachian State University
Appalachian State University
Appalachian State University is a comprehensive , public, coeducational university located in Boone, North Carolina, United States. Appalachian State, also referred to as Appalachian, App State, or simply App, is the sixth largest institution in the University of North Carolina system...
and his M.A in Political Management from The George Washington University. He is also a member of the Kappa Alpha Psi
Kappa Alpha Psi
Kappa Alpha Psi is a collegiate Greek-letter fraternity with a predominantly African American membership. Since the fraternity's founding on January 5, 1911 at Indiana University Bloomington, the fraternity has never limited membership based on color, creed or national origin...
fraternity.
Controversies & investigations
In early September 2009, the North Carolina State Board of Elections began an official audit of Harrell's campaign finance records, citing irregularities, unusual activity and incomplete entries. Among the items that reportedly caught the attention of auditors were hundreds of dollars in campaign expenditures at clothing and luggage stores marked as "committee meetings" on the paperwork Harrell filed.Shortly after the Board of Elections' announcement, the NC House Speaker's Office announced that the Speaker had ordered an ethics investigation of Harrell over his financial records.
In his first run for State House in 2006, Harrell was criticized for delinquent tax payments for vehicles and property he owned. Harrell had 17 delinquent tax payments over an 11-year period totaling more than $3,100. One such tax bill was nearly eight years overdue.
On September 20, 2009, Harrell submitted a letter of resignation to House Speaker Joe Hackney
Joe Hackney
Joe Hackney is a Democratic member of the North Carolina General Assembly representing the state's fifty-fourth House district, including constituents in Chatham, Orange, and Moore counties. A farmer and attorney from Chapel Hill, Hackney is currently serving in his sixteenth term in the state...
, effective immediately, amid the ongoing controversy over campaign expenditures totaling more than $13,000, revelations he was living outside of his district, and his divorce from his wife.
Legislative activities
In his first term as Representative of the 41st district, Harrell supported measures for higher teacher and state employee salaries, accessible and quality healthcare, protection of local small businesses and collaborative university efforts in the search for renewable energy sources.Harrell began his second term as Chair of the House Committee on Science and Technology and vice-chair of the House Committee on State Government and State Personnel, as well as vice-chair of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation.
Early in his second term, Harrell received criticism for his support of H. 1252 ("Level Playing Field") in his committee. The bill was heavily supported by various conservative organizations as well as Time Warner Cable
Time Warner Cable
Time Warner Cable is an American cable television company that operates in 28 states and has 31 operating divisions...
, which had a location within then-Representative Harrell's district.
The left-leaning North Carolina Center for Public Policy Research listed Harrell 52nd in their 2008 effectiveness rankings, the highest ranking given to any freshman lawmaker. Those rankings have since been criticized for favoring the majority party, as they include votes from the media, lobbyists, and the lawmakers themselves.
In the group's subsequent 2010 rankings, the Raleigh News & Observer reported that "the dubious honor for the biggest drop in effectiveness belongs to former Rep. Ty Harrell, who dropped from 52nd to 110th."
Political activities
In June 2007, Harrell became the first elected official in North Carolina to endorse Barack ObamaBarack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
, and after the president's election, Harrell was briefly rumored to have been considered a potential choice as Obama's ambassador to Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
.
External links
- NC House of Representatives - Ty Harrell official NC website
- DLCC- Representative Ty Harrell
- Project Vote Smart - Representative Ty Harrell (NC House) profile
- Follow the Money - Ty Harrell campaign contributions: